Sylvia's new look

The Original Enchilada Kitchen with new awnings and  bright red signage
looks much better.  

Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen - Original location on Westheimer Rd near Dairy Ashford 

Spruced up exterior with new signage 

12637 Westheimer Rd #140 Houston, TX 77077 Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen 

Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen new restaurant location on Eldridge Parkway

Sylvia's Energy Corridor Location: View of Entrance with Folk Art

Margarita with Sylvia's Menu 

1140 Eldridge Pkwy Ste 100 Houston, TX 77077 

This restaurant space near the Holiday Inn
was previously occupied by Sharky's Amercian Grill
and Enclave Grill before then

Sylvia's billboard on Highway 6 near Memorial Dr. 

From Sharky's American Grill to Silvia's Third - New Tex-Mex Restaurant to open in Energy Corridor location on Eldridge near Enclave Parkway

According to a Houston Chronicle news item last week, Silvia' Casares of Silvia's Enchilada Kitchen fame, will open a new restaurant in the corner space with patio that was previously Sharky's American Grill (and something else not too long before that) on Eldridge Parkway near Enclave. A Merriott, a Staybridge, and a Holiday Inn are nearby. Since Silvia already has brand recognition in the greater Houston area, she should have a much better chance to succeed in a location where others have failed, in part perhaps because there are several other dining options nearby. The new restaurant will bring her total to three. Silvia opened her original enchilada kitchen only a few miles away on Westheimer near Dairy Ashford. Her first expansion, a few years back, took her to Woodway near Voss. Silvia's forthcoming Energy Corridor location will carry her name and will feature enchiladas on the menu, but not in the name.

Sharky's was short-lived - Grand Opening in 2011;
locked out by landlord early in 2014

Silvia's to open in Energy Corridor on Eldridge Parkway near Buffalo Bayou
(click on map to enlarge)

There are quire a few lunch and dining options in the immediate neighborhood, the last arrivals being a Chipotle and a Cafe Express on opposite sides of Eldridge Parkway. In addition to serving those working the in the nearby office buildings, these restaurants cater to the culinary needs of visitors staying at Holiday Inn, Staybridge Suites, and Residence Inn-Merriott, all of which are located within walking distance.

Cafe Express at Enclave and Eldridge Parkway

Jimmy John's next door to Chipotle's Burrito Shop

Petit Cafe Mediterranean /Middle Eastern Grill in same retail center
as Poblanos (below), which offers Mexican fare

Poblanos, another Mexican eatery down the street

Residence Inn -Marriott on Eldridge

Staybridge Suites on Eldridge

Eldridge Parkway signage at Katy Freeway feeder intersection

Chipotle on Eldridge at Enclave Parkway (near KBR Office Building)

Jimmy John's and Chipotle on Eldridge with KBR Office Building in the distance 

Retail space next to Jimmy John's in this picture now occupied by Chipotle

Joel's Mexican Grill (photos of restaurant property)

This restaurant has a note posted saying it is permanently closed. It's quite colorful still. At least a feast for the eyes (and the lens). 

New restaurant openings along Katy Freeway: Tony's, El Rancho, Food on Top of Golf

Margarita heaven after the cafe binge? 

Following a wave to new restaurant starts on Eldridge Parkway in 2012 -- predominantly cafes, the entrepreneurial frenzy seems to have shifted a little farther West toward Katy, with several new food and beverage operations on the way -- if not already completed -- on the North side of outbound I-10 past Highway 6.  

Tony's Mexican Restaurant - New Katy Freeway Location

Two more spots offering Mexican cuisine -- Tony's Mexican Restaurant and El Rancho - will enhance the South-of-the-border culinary panorama in this West Houston area that is currently seeing a construction boom that has dotted the horizon with cranes.  

El Rancho Mexican Restaurant north of Interstate 10 near Barker-Cypress

Not that the Energy Corridor does not already cater to Tex-Mex-craving palates with several existing establishments: 
    

Fiesta Sombrero's Grill y Cantina on Park Row, and two in the Grisby restaurant square in the SE corner of the Katy Freeway-Texas 6 interchange: Lupe Tortilla's  and Las Ventanas; 

not to mention the Poblanos Mexican Cafe farther South on Eldridge, and two on Memorial Drive: La Hacienda and Ninfa's Mexican Restaurant.

And then there is that gigantic new club swinger's paradise - TopGolf Houston. It's a golfing venue, alright, and a high-tech one at that, not to mention the enormous nets that have altered the skyline; but the newly erected leisure venue with landmark pretensions has food service as well to complement the fun, -- and drinks of course.

TopGolf frontal - Stairs leading up to entrance

TopGolf at Night - Drive-by-view of logo and lighted net posts from the Freeway

Ninfa's location on Memorial Drive

Ninfa's Mexican Restaurant on Memorial Drive a little West of intersection with Dairy Ashford

The original Ninfa's is located on Navigation Boulevard East of Downtown. Other Ninfa's locations around Houston -- such as the Ninfa's Restaurant on Kirby Drive at Richmond, -- were sold and converted to Maggie Ritas, and failed commercially shortly thereafter. The one on Memorial so far has kept operating under its original name. 

La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant on Memorial Dr.

Lupe Tortilla Mexican Restaurant and Cantina

Lupe Tortilla 318 Stafford St Houston, TX 77079

Las Ventanas Restaurant & Cantina (photos)

Las Ventanas Signage in the dark
with Energy Corridor Mexican restaurant behind

Las Ventanas Restaurant & Cantina 14555 Grisby Road Houston, TX 77079

Las Ventanas logo on sign in Mexican Restaurant's parking lot on Grisby Rd.

Entrada Las Ventanas Restaurante Mexicano y Cantina 

Panoramic view of Mexican Restaurant and Las Ventanas logo on sign

Mexican Food and Tex-Mex Westheimer Eldridge Parkway Katy Freeway area

El Matador Mexican Bar & Grill on Westheimer with
themed van in the parking lot

Sylvia's Mexican Food & Bar - Signage at Entrance

Sylvia's enchilada place, the original location
on Westheimer near Dairy Ashford

Poblanos Mexican Grill on Eldridge Parkway
across from Staybridge Suites Hotel

Taco Cabana Signage
Drive-through on Highway 6 near Westheimer

Taco Cabana location on SH-6 South of Westheimer
with Palm Trees

8/16/2013 UPDATE: Lockout notice posted August 2013